Garden centre gives disabled student work experience

A DISABLED teenager has been given work by a garden centre after he was turned down by other companies over his lack of mobility.

Ed Parkin, 18, suffers from a muscular condition which means he has to use a wheelchair.

He is currently studying for a level three BTEC in business studies at Reading College and has reached the stage of the course where he has to gain work experience. However, he struggled to find work and says many of the companies he approached were unable to accommodate him due to concerns about how he would get around.

Now Hare Hatch Sheeplands, near Wargrave, has invited Ed to work in the office.

Ed said: “I am going to be learning all aspects of running a business and it means that when I do go out and seek full-time employment after hopefully passing my exams, I can demonstrate that I do have the necessary experience.

“After a few rejections, I am very grateful for the opportunity.”

Speaking about his condition, Ed said: “I woke up one morning and realised that I had become paralysed overnight. It was really traumatic at the time.

“Now I have to go to the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital at Stanmore for specialist treatment on a regular basis.

“I was introduced to Sheeplands by Nick Barnett, who is one of their consultants.

Sheeplands manager Andrea Burlingham said: “We are very happy to give Ed the chance to gain experience of running a business. We wish him every success.”